15-Year-Old Arrested In Northeast Philadelphia ‘Knockout’ Attack

Police believe a man attacked outside this pizza shop in Philadelphia was the latest victim in the "knockout" game. (credit: CBS)

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Police have arrested a 15-year-old and are searching for a second suspect in connection with a “knockout” attack in Northeast Philadelphia earlier this month.

Investigators say a 15-year-old male has been arrested and they are searching for a second suspect for their roles in an attack outside a pizza shop in Fox Chase on November 11th.

The victim in the November 11th assault told Eyewitness News that he was walking out of a pizza shop when he was attacked.

“Someone asked me for a cigarette and by the time I got my hands out my pocket, I was getting hit by four kids,” Mark Cumberland explained.

Cumberland said he is still having difficulty seeing and has trouble breathing and swallowing.

“There’s no reason at all. I mean, I didn’t get robbed, they didn’t take nothing from me. They just beat me up.”

The 15-year-old has been charged with Aggravated Assault, Criminal Conspiracy and related charges. His name is not being released because he is a juvenile.

The suspects behind the “knockout” game have one goal in mind: knock out the victim with one punch. The victim is almost always chosen at random, an individual simply walking down the street.

Videos from cities around the country show people being punched and beaten at random.

Lower Merion Police say suspects Samuel Hayles and Markus January were arrested on October 29th, just moments after they allegedly ambushed and beat a 63-year-old man who was walking his dog. (See Related Story)

In another case in Lower Merion, an elderly man was also attacked when he was mowing his lawn outside of his home. The suspect in that attack is still on the loose.

Bruce Myer, a neighbor of the elderly victim, says, “A kid came up to him and just punching him in the mouth. He ended up lying in the street with his lawnmower.”

Myer says, “The kid did it on a dare. He said give me five dollars and I’ll knock that guy out.”

The elderly victim is now using a cane and a walker to get around. He has had to undergo multiple medical procedures.